Dog Owners: Chinese Treats Are Toxic

Chinese Pet Treats

Kevin and Candace Thaxton, owners of Chansey, claim the 10-year-old pug died after eating Chinese jerky treats. The FDA has fielded more than 530 complaints from dog owners in the past four months who say their pets got sick or died after eating jerky treats made in China.

Courtesy Kevin and Candace Thaxton

Chinese Pet Treats

Kevin and Candace Thaxton, owners of Chansey, claim the 10-year-old pug died after eating Chinese jerky treats. The FDA has fielded more than 530 complaints from dog owners in the past four months who say their pets got sick or died after eating jerky treats made in China.

Courtesy Kevin and Candace Thaxton

Chinese Pet Treats

The Thaxtons say their puppy Penny almost died the same way, but recovered when they stopped feeding her the treats.

Courtesy Kevin and Candace Thaxton

Chinese Pet Treats

Waggin' Train, a popular chicken jerky treat sold by Nestle Purina, is made in China. A surplus of white meat from chickens makes China a source of chicken jerky for U.S. pet food manufacturers.

ABC News

Chinese Pet Treats

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, has urged Congress to take the Chinese dog treat issue seriously, citing ineffective trade laws that have allowed unsafe products to slip into the U.S. He demanded action from the FDA during a Senate speech in February. The agency says it has not found a "definitive cause" for the illnesses claimed by dog owners, and that they may have a source other than the treats.

Chinese Pet Treats

Facebook pages and online petitions devoted to pulling Chinese jerky treats from the shelves have been getting reaction from dog owners around the country. One Facebook page is titled "Animal Parents Against Pet Treats and Food Made in China." Another, called "Victims of Treats Made in China," includes photos of dogs who allegedly died from eating the treats.

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Chinese Pet Treats

Some pet owners have blamed Canyon Creek Ranch dog treats, produced by Nestle Purina, for illnesses and deaths. A spokesperson for Nestle Purina said its products are held to the highest quality and safety standards and are safe to feed to pets.

ABC News

Chinese Pet Treats

Holly McCutcheon says her four-year-old dog Jack got sick in January from the treats.

Courtesy Holly McCutcheon

Chinese Pet Treats

McCutcheon and Jack joined Sen. Brown at a recent press conference to call attention to what she says are the risks associated with Chinese-made pet treats.

Courtesy Holly McCutcheon

Chinese Pet Treats

Jack, who has recovered, works as a therapy dog. The FDA says it is continuing to investigate Chinese jerky treats.

Courtesy Holly McCutcheon

Dog's Treats Making Pups Sick?

Sampson, a 9-year-old fox terrier, died of kidney failure in January. His owners blame his death on Chinese jerky treats.